Coin segregator



N.y P. PETERSEN COIN SEGREGATOR Nov. 2l,V 1933.

Filed April 22, 1929 3 Sheets--Shee-Y l NOV 21, 1933- N. P. PETERsl-:N

COIN SEGREGATOR Filed April 22, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ng y fc W NOV. 2l, 1933. N. p PETERSEN 1,935,662

COIN SEGREGATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 22, 1929 rai-nad Nov. 21, 1933- i 1 ,Y f 1,935,662

UNITED STATES. PATENT ori-ice COIN sEGnEGA'roR' Nels P. Petersen, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Antonettie M. Petersen, LosV Angeles,A

Calif. Applicationv April 22, V1929. Serial No. 35'1-,1'76

' 11 Claims.` (ci. Y1in- 102) My invention is what isdesignated as a coin tends intothev opening of ai perforated slug amt segregator, that is a device toseparate so-called allows such slug to tilt throughthe opening-into slugs or spurious coins from legal coinsand coins the slug pocket, thus traveling from. the slug in good condition. The device `is particularly pocket to the slug chute.

adapted for connection with a coin operated or Inconnection with the operation of the magnet, 60 controlled machine. I preferably space the magnet from the coin An'object of myrinvention is a coin segregachute by insulating or non-magnetic material and tor or slug ejector in which the slugs are sepaalso preferably by a non-magnetic metal such as a rated from the coins while undergoing a continubrass plate. `This is done in order to prevent dious Vmovement due to gravity Aandvwithout any rect contactj of the slugs having magnetic Gai manipulation being undertaken `by an operator propertiesv with the magnet. The magnet is posior the person depositing the slug. tionedadjacent the coin chute in a part of said In this connection an object of my invention is chute Where. the coins run on their periphery and in rolling slugs down a chute in which the direcmake a jump off the lower end of part of the tion of movement of the slug is changed and in chute.

various parts of the travel, slugs undersized in My invention is illustrated in the accompanying l diameter are discharged from the coin chute into drawings, in which, y

a slug chute.I Slugs having a hole in the center Figure 1 is a side elevation of coin segregator are also separated and dumped into a slug chute. or slug ejector which may be attached to aV coin 20. Slugs havingamagnetic property are brought into controlledvending machine, such figure being 75 the iniluence of a magnet and thus diverted from taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 2; the coin chute. Y Fig. 2 is an irregular vertical section on the line In connection with the operation of the magnet, 2-2 0f Fig. 1l in the direction 0f the aIlOW;

a still further object of my invention is utilizing a Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged vertical section on balance device which-is struck .by the coins and the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the SO slugs-which are brought into the influence of the arrows, showing the coin tilting device; magnet, the slugs 'having magnetic properties be- Fig. 4.is a detail vertical section on the line ing retarded and the momentum .being insuf- 4-4 of Fig. 1,v showing the ejector for undercient tovovercome the balance, whereby they are sized slugs;

80 directed into a slug chute, whereas the non-mag- Fig. 5 is a vertical detail section on the line 85 netic coins having their full velocity of travel 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, overcome-the balance and fall into a continuation showing theY ejector for perforated slugs; of the coin chute. I Fig. 6 is a detail partial plan view of the de- Afurther detailed object of my invention is in vices of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, taken in the direction aV coin chute to tilt the coins and slugs whereby of the arrows 6 of Figs. 1 or 2; Y, i

they run down an Vinclined chute partly on the Fig. '7 is a 'detail sectionpon the line 7-.7 ofperipheral edge and partlyon one of the side facesp- Fig. -1 in the direction )of the arrows, through In this connection I separate the slugs underthe magnet; sized in diameter by rolling them Vpast an open- `Fig..8 is an inside elevation of one of the plates 40 ing so that the undersized slugs being inclined, having the guides or runways for the coins there- 95 tilt through this opening into a slug pocket conon; g necting to a slug chute. This opening is pro- Fig. 9 is an inside elevation of the complevided with a slightly shiftable gate which has a mentary plate having the inclined track for the limited movement to allow discharge of slugs lcoins or slugs and the slug pocket and the magnet having a certain variation indiameter butswhich on the outside thereof. n l 100 will allow the passage ofy proper sized coins. The plate having the tracks is designated Vby Another feature of operating the coins on a the numeral 11 and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and chute in which they roll partly von the periphery 3. This plate is preferably flat and has an upper and partly on one face, is the ejector for the slugs. track `12. This is connected at itsupper end to having arcentral perforation. To discharge these a vertical rib 13 adjacent Vone side of the plate. 105

Ihave an opening on the inclined structure against There is Vanother vertical rib 14 adjacent the opwhichthe slug bears on one face and positioned posite edgeofthe plate. A Space l5 is left bein this opening is ahook-like pin. The tip of the tween the end 16 of theY track 12 and the rib pin supports the proper coin and allows it to roll 14. A next lower track 1'7 extends from the rib past this opening, whereas the tip of the pin ex- 14 in the opposite direction to the track 12 and v110 has its end 18 spaced from the rib 13 as indicated at 19. A third track 20 extends from the rib 13 in the same general direction as the track 12 and above this there is a guide rail 21 extending from the end 18 of the track 17 substantially parallel to the track 20. A fourth track 22 leads to a vertical rib 23, there being auspacel 24 between the end of the rib 22 and the lower end 25 of the rib 13. This space 24 is the discharge space for slugs.

A bottom track 26 extends from the rib 14 in the the same general direction as the track 17 and has its end 27 spaced from a vertical rib` 28 depending from the track 22, leaving a space 29 for the discharge of proper coins. TheD coins are inserted adjacent the upper end 30 of the rib 13. A balance 31 is mounted on a pivot pin 32. This balance has a vweighted end 33 normally resting on an abutment block 34 secured to the plate 11 and having a curved end 35 positioned slightly above. the lineV formed by the upper edge of thetrack 20. This balance allows passage of proper coinsv by being struck thereby on the curved part 35 and allowing such coins to-fall on the track 26. This balance cooperates with the magnet inthe manner hereunder detailed.

'I'he complementary plate 36 ofthe slug ejector is a flat plate with an opening 37 extending downwardlyin a diagonal direction. The opening is preferably formed by slitting thefmetalY on the line 38 and bending the slit portion outwardly forming an inclined supporting track 39. The lower edge 40 of this sloping track coincides with the upper edge of the track 12 and this portion has an angular bevel as indicated at 41.

A slug receiving pocket 42 is formed o n the outside of the plate 36, by attaching va hollowshaped metal plate 43.' This plate is indicated as having a substantially vertical edge 44 and an inclined edge 45. Thev `pocket has a curved bottom portion 46 and vdischarges through a lower opening 47 in the plate 36. This opening discharges slugs between the track 20 and 22 so that Asuch slugs are discharged through the slug dischargeA space 24. .Y

The'tilting device for'the coins. and` slugs utilizes a metalbar 48 attached tothe plate 36 and having an inclined plate 49 which receives coins traveling down the uppery portion of the track 12 on their periphery andi tilts these on to the beveled edge 41 sothat the coins travel on the inclined supporting track 39. (Note Figs.' 3 and 9.)Y l

The ejector for slugs undersized in diameter is indicated` generally'v by the `numeral 50.. This comprises a substantially rectangular opening 51 in the inclined track 39, the lower edge 52i being slightly above the bevel 41 of the track l2, and the upper edge 53 being positioned'so that the space between the edges 52 and 53 is insufficient for the passage of a coin of proper diameter but will allow passage of a slug undersized in diameter. The opening is sufficiently long .f from its upper edge 54 to its lower edge. 55 to give sufficient time for a slug to be dropped in its travel downward by gravity.

A slipping gate 56 is mounted 'on the inclined track 39 and is formed of a U-shaped section of metal 57. The arms of the U fit onfthe insideV and outside of the inclined track 39 and the base of the U ts over the upper edge 58ofl the track 39; The plate 39 has a bent oiset as indicated at 59- so that the-joints 60 and 61 of the upper face of the gate and the upper face of the inclined track 39 are flush; thus preventing any stoppage of a coin sliding from the track 39 on to the upper arm of the U-shaped gate or in passing there oiT at the lower edge. A metal clip 62 has its lower end 63 attached to the upper portion 64 of the slug pocket and has a horizontal ange 65 which engages the upper end of the U-shaped gate and restricts its movement.

In constructing the ejector for undersized slugs and coins the beveled portion 41 of the track 12 should be of a width to allow free rolling of a newly minted coin on its peripheral edge without such coin binding against the lower portion of the inclined plate 39er the plate ll. The distance from the bevel 41 to the upper fixed edge 53 of the opening should be slightly less than the diameter of a good coin so that such proper coin may be passed by the opening without falling through. The gate 56'has its lower edge slightly overlapping the opening and is freely slidable so that it may readily be pushed upwardly to the full extent of the opening 51. v

The action of this slug ejector for slugs undersized in diameter is as follows: Such slugs rollingdown on their peripheral edge on the bevel 4l and the inclined surface 39, if suiiiciently small in diameter pass between the edge 52 and the lower edge' of the gate. .A proper sized coin rolls over this space without passing through. Such slugs as above mentioned fall into the slug pocket and from thence on to the slug ejecting track 22 and to the slug ejectingopening 24, whence they may be returned to the party who deposited the slug.

As the beveled portion 41 of the track l2 must be of sufcient width to allow free running on its periphery of a newly minted coin, which coin usually has a burr, manifestly, such track is wider than is necessary for a coin which is worn as to its thickness. are thinner than the standard may not roll absolutely fiat on the inclined plate 39 but may be slightly tilted with their rolling edge being against plate 11. This slight tilting would cause slugs and coins which are undersized to'engage the lower edge of the gate and'force this upwardly sufliciently to drop these through the opening.` The gate projectingr slightly over the upper edge of the opening carries coins which are newly minted and those only slightly worn through the machine. v

When the gate'56 is in its lowermost position the distance between the bottomvof the upper side' substantially the same diameter as the width' from the track to the top of the opening might wedge in the opening and not pass through, but

where the gate can move upwardly, the worn coin or slug thrusts the gate upwardly slightly suf-u ciently to allow dropping of such worn coin or slug. The peripheral edge ofthe coin engages Hence, coins and slugs which underneath the edge of the plate` 57 This gives a refinement to my machineand prevents the blockage of the opening by worn coins or slugs which might jam in the opening for disposing of undersized coins or slugs.

The lower edge 52 of the opening, noted, isabove the beveled track 41. Therefore, this edge of the opening forms a tilt point for the tilting of undersized coins or slugs and the dropping of these through the opening.

The separator for perforated slugs is con# g it will be the balance device 31.

structed as follows,` having'reference particularly to Figs. 1,2, 5, 6 and 9: This ejector for perforated slugs is designated generally by the numeral 66 and has an opening 67 "inthe inclined track 39. This opening is of sufficient height between its lower edgel 68 Vand its upper edge 69 toallow passage of both slugs -and .1 proper sized coins' It also has suicient space between the entrance edge 70 and the discharge edge 7l for the passage of slugs or proper sized coins into the slug pocket.` A guideplate 72 is secured to the irl--l clined track 39 and has an upturned edge 73 to guide coins` and slugs towards this opening' 67. A Vpin 74 is secured to the inclined track 39 preferably on'the undersurface and hasa tip end V75. projecting partly through the opening 67, such tip being substantiallyin the center ofthe opening 67) considered between its lower and upper edges 68 and 69.v Y

slugs is as follows: Presumingfan unperforated` slug orl a proper coin is rolling down the chute inclined on its peripheryrand on o-ne flat side, ther pin guides such slug or coin past the opening 67.

However, if a-slug having a' central perforation is rolling down the chute, the top of the pin slips through the perforation and allows tilting of such slugso that in its continued movement the slug passes through the opening Y67. In this opera-y tion the slug is moving quite fast and the pin does not positively hook the slug but merely allows its diversion from lack of a support. Such perforated slug is thus deposited in the slug pocket 42 and from thence dumped on the track 22 through the Yopening. 47 and discharge through the slug discharge space 24. y

The proper coins andffullsize slugs which have passed the two diverters s uch as the undersizedl slugs and the perforated slugs are brought into an 'upright position by a curved portion`76 of the inclinedftrack 39 adjacent its lower end.Y Such coinsV and slugs pass through the spacev 15' atthefendof the track 12 and thence drop on the track 17, rolling in reverse direction and then passing through the space 19 on to the track 20, thence down Vthe track 20 to the diverter for magnetic coins designated generally by the numeral 77. This diverter comprises a horse shoe magnet 78 which is secured by a strap 79 and a bolt 80 the bolt being threaded on the block 8l 'welded to the plate 36, there being an insulating plate 82 between the magnet and the plate 36. This insulating material is preferably diamagnetic and the metal plate 36 is preferably of non the horseshoe magnet are preferably rpositioned adjacent the lower ends of the track 20 and the parallel guide 21 and. positioned slightly above The action of the magnetic diverter is as follows: When a slug having magnetic properties is rolling down the track 20 downwardly by the action of gravity, this slug comes under the magnetic inuence of the magnet and is slightly re- ,tarded in its velocity. Therefore even if this slug is the same weight asa proper coin, its momentum instriking the curved part 35 of the balance 31 is insunicient to tilt this balance suiciently to discharge such slug on the Vtrack 26, but the slug rolls downwardly on the weighted end 33 of the balance and on to the track 22 andthence through the opening 24 for slugs. However, a proper coin of the proper weight has suflicient momentum that in striking the balance it A tilts the balance so that the coin its dropped on The action of the slug'ejector for'perforated i The poles of to the track 26and is thence discharged through the opening 29 into a suitable coin receiving de. vice.-V Such coin receiving devicepreferably leads toa coin controlling mechanism for some purpose or other. l

.Y It will thus be seen that I havedeveloped a coin segregator'or slug ejector-which'requires no manual manipulation and eject-s slugs which are undersized inv diameter,l those which havev central perforations and those which have .mag-VV netic properties, even if the latter` are of the proper diameter and proper weight and have passedxt'ne twoupper slug diverters.

While my coinA segregator is particularly dea- `signed togoperate with a vending machine such as set forth in my patent application Serial No. 357,148 iiled April 22, 1929, itis to be understood that it iiay be applied to general use in which it is desired to separate slugsor worn or underweighted coins from proper coins. Y v

Variouschanges may be made in the principles of myv invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the descriptiom-drawings and claims.

I claim: l. In a device as described, a runway for coins having a track with the coins to run on their periphery, an inclined supporting track,imeans to tilt the coins te bear on one face on said inclined track, the inclined track being formed of a plate with an opening therein, and said operiing.v being adapted to divert coins or slugs undersized in diameter, a gate structure formed of a U-shaped device tted over the upperiedge of the plate forming the inclined track, 'the lower edge of the gate being adapted to be engaged by coins or slugs slightly undersized and shifted by such coins or slugs to allow diversion thereof.

2. In a device as described, a pair of substantialy parallel, vertical plates spaced apart',l and with a runway for running coins on their periphery between the plates, one of the plates have ing a laterally Vinclined-section with an opening, a tilting plate positioned above the inclined section topositively tilt coins to rest on the inclined section, a freely shiftable gate structure forming a partial closure for said opening and being movable by a slightly undersized coin or slug to divert said coin or slug through the opening.

3. In a device as described, a runway for running coins on their periphery having an inclined ,plane plate at one side of the runway, with an plate, the inclined plate'having a freely slidable gate structure forming a partial closure for Vthe k opening, and shiftable by slightly undersized coins to divert same throughl the said opening.

4. In a device as described, a pair of vertical, parallel plates spaced apart and having a runway forrunning coins'on their periphery, one of the plates having a laterally inclined plane section with an opening therein to divert coins or slugs of undersized diameter, a slug pocket to receive such undersized slugs or coins, a second runway below the said opening to receive slugs from the slugpocket and discharge undersized coins or slugs, the inclined section of the plate having a freely slidable gate structure forming a partial closure for the opening, said structure being shifted by slightly undersized coins and slugs.

5. In a device as described, a track for. rolling coins on the periphery, said track being of sufcient width to accommodate a newly minted coin, a laterally inclined plane plate extending to one side of saidl track to be engaged by the side of the coin, said plate having an opening, a freely slidable gate mounted on the plate and having its lower edge normally' projecting slightly below the upper edge of the opening.

6. In a device as described, a `track forming a runway for rolling coins on theirperiphery, said track being of sufficient width to accommodate a newly minted coin, a laterally inclined supportingA plate having anopening with an upper edge parallel to the track to be engaged by the side of the coin, a freely slidable gate mounted on the supporting plate and having its lower edge project slightly below the upper edge of said opening,' said plate being laterally offset, andl the surface of the gate being flush with the surface ofthe supporting plate.

7. In a device as described, a downwardly sloping track having a beveled portion, the beveled portion being suflcientto accommodatea newly minted coin rolling on its edge, a laterally inclined plane supporting plate having a rectangular opening therein, the upper and lower edge of said opening being parallel to the beveled portion of the track, a gate freely shiftably mounted on said plate and having its lower edge normally projecting slightly below the upper redge of said opening to be shifted by a slightly undersized coin or slug, and a tilting plate secured in a position above the opening to positively tilt coins to bear on said inclined plate. v

8. In a device as described,` a track having a laterally inclined bevel for rolling coins on their periphery, a laterally inclined plane plate eX'- tending to one side` of said track against which the coin bears on its side, said plate having an opening with an upper edge parallel to the track, arfreely slidable gate mounted on the plate and having its lower edge projecting normally slightly below the upper edge of said opening, the lower edge of the gate being parallel to the track, the

distance between the lower edge of the gatel and the track being substantially equal to or slightly less than thev diameter of a coin worn in diameter, said gate when engaged by a slightly undersized coin or slug being adapted 'to freely slide on the plate to drop such coin or slug through said opening, the lower edge of the opening being positioned above the beveled track and being adapted to form a tilting point for the tilt,- ing of slugs and coins passing through said Openlllg.. Y y

Y 9. In a. device as described, a track forming a runway for rolling coins on their periphery, a laterallyiinclined plane surfaced supporting plate adjacent the track, said track having a bevel at substantially rightA angles to the incline .of the plate, said plate having a laterally offset section with an opening therethrough having parallel upper and lower edges, the llower edge being slightly above and parallel to the track, and a freely slidable gate mounted on the supporting plate in the oiset sectiony and having a lower edge projecting slightly below the upper edge of the opening inthe plate, the upper surface of the gate and of the said supporting plate being flush. l0. In ay device as described in claim 9, and a Yxed stop clip positioned to engage the gate and limit the upward sliding of such gate.

11. In a device as described, a track having a runway for rolling coins on their periphery, a portion of the track being beveled, a laterally inclined supporting plate extending upwardly from the track at substantially right angles to the beveled section, said plate having a laterally offset section with Yan opening having upper and lower parallel edges, the lower edge being above the beveled `portion of the track and parallel thereto, a U-shaped gate mounted in the offset section and having one side of the L J above and the other below the platethe lower edge of the gate being slightly below the upper edge fof the opening, and the upper surface of the gate being flush withv the 'supporting plate adjacent the oiset section. ,v y

' NELS P. PETERSEN. 

